The Real Reason Evgeni Malkin's Season Went Badly Revealed Publicly
Photo credit: PensBurgh
Amidst reports that 2025-26 will be the last NHL season for Pittsburgh Penguins icon Evgeni Malkin, the real reason why his stats were down this year has been released.
It looks as though 2025-26 could be a bittersweet year for fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who could be watching franchise icon and future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin's last year in the NHL.
Josh Yohe of The Athletic recently wrote that this upcoming season will be Malkin's last year in the League, coinciding with the final year of the 4 year contract he signed in 2022 from former general manager Ron Hextall.
Malkin's stats dipped to just 16 goals this year in 68 games, his lowest output since scoring just 8 goals in 2020-21 (in just 33 games played).
But a major reason why his drop in production has been offered. This was the 1st year that he didn't skate on Pittsburgh's top power play unit; that role was instead filled by 1st-year Penguins forward Kevin Hayes.
Early last season, in a successful attempt to jump-start Crosby after the Penguins captain endured a sluggish start, the Penguins placed Malkin on his left wing. The plan worked, as Crosby found his game quickly and returned to his standard, all-world form for the rest of the season.
Malkin, however, never looked like himself again. Later in the season, Malkin was removed from the Penguins' top power play for a long period in favor of Kevin Hayes. That marked the first time in Pittsburgh that Malkin didn't play on the top unit.
Malkin, however, never looked like himself again. Later in the season, Malkin was removed from the Penguins' top power play for a long period in favor of Kevin Hayes. That marked the first time in Pittsburgh that Malkin didn't play on the top unit.
New Penguins head coach Dan Muse could see to it that Malkin gets more time on the power play to try and boost his stats to give fans more thrills for a final year.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 16 | 233 ANSWERS The Real Reason Evgeni Malkin's Season Went Badly Revealed Publicly Do you want the Penguins to try and convince Evgeni Malkin to play beyond 2025-26? | ||
| Yes | 81 | 34.8 % |
| No | 152 | 65.2 % |
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